Portable insulated container

ABSTRACT

A portable insulated container is formed of an inner shell and an outer shell connected together to form the container with a space between the inner shell and the outer shell for an insulting material. An insulation material fills at least a part of the space between the inner and outer shells with at least part of the outer shell being formed of a transparent material so that the insulation material in the space is visible through the outer shell. The insulation material is formed of a naturally occurring material such as straw or a recycled material such as paper, the nature of which can be visibly determined by viewing of the insulation material in the space through the outer shell.

This invention relates to a portable insulated container which may be of the type used as a camping cooler for transporting water or articles such as drinks cans and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Coolers are widely used in camping and one type is designed for carrying water and generally includes a top opening for filling and a bottom spigot for discharge of the water. These are typically cylindrical in shape. Another type is used for transporting chilled food or drinks and typically is rectangular with a removable top cover to allow the materials to be inserted and removed. In both cases the container is typically formed with an inner shell forming the hollow interior and an outer shell forming an exposed outer surface. The inner and outer shells are connected leaving a space between then which is filled with a foamed insulation material.

Many attempts are being made to improve products by providing an improved exterior appearance and by using materials in the manufacture which are of a natural sustainable nature rather than fabricated from oil or other non-sustainable materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the invention to provide a portable insulated container which is manufactured at least in part from natural materials rather than non-sustainable materials and which has an attractive appearance reflecting the use of natural materials.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a portable insulated container comprising:

an inner shell forming a hollow interior of the container;

an outer shell forming an exterior wall of the container;

the inner and outer shells being connected together to form the container with a space between the inner shell and the outer shell for an insulting material;

the inner and outer shells being connected together to form a filler opening through which material to be contained within the container is insertable into the hollow interior;

an insulation material filling at least a part of the space between the inner and outer shells;

wherein at least part of the outer shell is formed of a transparent material so that the insulation material in the space is visible through the outer shell;

and wherein the insulation material is formed of a naturally occurring material or a recycled material, the nature of which can be visibly determined by viewing of the insulation material in the space through the outer shell.

Preferably the insulation material is a naturally occurring plant material and particularly the stalks of a plant material. Such material is readily available typically a waste product.

As an alternative, a recycled material can be used such as recycled paper which is chopped or otherwise treated to provide the required insulation properties and also provide the visual appearance of a “green” or environmentally friendly material.

Other examples of such environmentally friendly insulation materials can be found and any of these are suitable with the additional preferred feature that they can be readily determined to meet the criteria by visual inspection through the transparent part of the outer shell.

In particular the insulation material can be straw arranged as continuous strands arranged side by side in a mat or an integral mat structure. The mat can connected by stitching across the strands or in rows of stitching at right angles to the strands so as to hold the mat as an integral structure. The mat can be supported by a backing sheet to provide additional support holding the strands together as a mat so that the mat can be formed into a band wrapped within the space around the inner shell of the container. The outer shell is then shaped so that it can engage onto the inner shell and the band by sliding longitudinally along the inner shell from the bottom until the outer shell meets an edge of the inner shell at which the shells can be connected to close the space around the mat of insulation material.

A bottom portion of the space between the inner and the outer shells can also be filled with the same insulation material. However it will be appreciated that the bottom is less visible so that the bottom may not be transparent allowing the space to be filled with any suitable insulation material.

As an alternative, the insulation material in the space between the inner and outer shells can be plant material which is chopped so that it can be poured into the space.

Typically for storing of water the space between inner and outer shells is generally circular cylindrical and is filled with a cylindrical band of the insulation material. However other shapes of container can also be used such as square.

Thus the outer shell includes a generally cylindrical peripheral wall which is substantially wholly transparent.

Preferably there is provided a top piece at the top of the cylindrical peripheral wall where the inner and outer shells are connected to form the opening. This may be formed of a conventional non-transparent plastics material so as to form a band at the top of the container which defines the opening and includes a lid for closing the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view through one embodiment of a container according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the mat of insulation material of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the mat of insulation material of the container of FIG. 1 shown in a flat condition.

FIG. 5 is an isometric exploded view of the top and lid of the container of FIG. 1.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The portable insulated container 10 shown in the figures includes an inner shell 11 forming a hollow interior 12 of the container. The shell 11 is generally cylindrical or slightly tapered and includes a flat circular bottom wall 13 and a peripheral wall 14. The inner shell further includes an annular horizontal top band 15 and a depending lip 16.

The container further includes an outer shell 17 forming an exterior wall of the container which includes a base 18 and a peripheral wall 19. The base is shaped with a recessed band 20 which strengthens the base so that it provides a horizontal rigid plate for standing on a surface with the container held upward from that surface with sufficient strength to contain a liquid contained in the hollow interior.

The inner and outer shells are connected together at the bottom edge of the lip 16 and at a top edge of the wall 19 to form the container with a space 22 between the upstanding walls of inner shell and the outer shell for an insulting material. Between the bottom wall 13 and the base 18 is provided a further space 23.

The top of the wall 14 defining the hollow interior defines a filler opening 24 through which material to be contained within the container is insertable into the hollow interior. This can be poured if the material is liquid or can be simply inserted inside if the material is solid such as drink cans.

In the example shown, a spigot 25 is attached to the peripheral wall 17 at the bottom to discharge liquid from the interior. However smaller models intended for pouring or for removing the contents with a straw may have no spigot. In general therefore larger models which would be too heavy to readily lift and pour include a spigot while the smaller models are more simple without the necessity for a recess in the outer wall 17 for the spigot.

The outer shell is formed of a plastics material which is transparent. Preferably the whole of the outer shell is molded from the same material so that it is wholly transparent but this is not essential and a part only may be transparent depending on the size and design.

An insulation material 30 fills at least a part of the space between the inner and outer shells and is formed of a naturally occurring material such as straw. Straw has a nature which can be readily visibly determined by viewing of the insulation material in the space through the outer shell. Thus this provides firstly an attractive outer appearance and secondly the fact that natural insulation material rather than unsustainable fabricated insulation material has been used can be readily seen by the user or by persons observing the use. The “green” nature of the product is thus readily visible.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insulation material is formed from straw which is laid with the stalks parallel to form a mat which is consolidated and held as a mat structure by transverse stitch lines 31 so that the insulation material forms a mat. The mat initially is formed flat and is then rolled to form a cylinder which is then wrapped within the space around the inner shell. Typically the cylinder of the insulation mat is pressed into the outer shell around the outer wall with a circular pad placed in the bottom space 18 and the inner shell is pressed into location until the lip 16 meets the top edge of the wall 19. These are then connected by heat sealing or by adhesive to complete the construction. The outer shell can be formed of a plant based plastics material to improve the natural quality of the product, although conventional oil based plastics can be used.

The inner shell and the band 16 can be formed of opaque colored plastics material so that the visible band 16 is clearly visually distinguished from the lower transparent part where the plant type insulation material is visible.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the lid can also be formed of a transparent plastics material filled again with a pad portion of the mat of straw or other insulation material. Various arrangement of lid can be used including a screw in arrangement with a peripheral male screw thread which engages a female screw thread on the inside of the container at the top. The female screw thread can be formed in the body of the inner shell or can be formed in an insert piece or ring 30 which has a depending flange 31 attached into the top of the inner shell. In FIG. 5 the lid 32 is a press fit into the ring 30 and can be held in place by an attachment ring 33 hinged to the insert ring 30. In some cases the lid is not insulated. In other cases the lid can be insulated with conventional materials and thus have no transparent section so that the visible insulation is confined to the area around the periphery at the outer shell.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. 

1. A portable insulated container comprising: an inner shell forming a hollow interior of the container; an outer shell forming an exterior wall of the container; the inner and outer shells being connected together to form the container with a space between the inner shell and the outer shell for an insulting material; the inner and outer shells being connected together to form a filler opening through which material to be contained within the container is insertable into the hollow interior; an insulation material filling at least a part of the space between the inner and outer shells; wherein at least part of the outer shell is formed of a transparent material so that the insulation material in the space is visible through the outer shell; and wherein the insulation material is formed of a naturally occurring material or a recycled material, the nature of which can be visibly determined by viewing of the insulation material in the space through the outer shell.
 2. The container according to claim 1 wherein the insulation material is a plant material.
 3. The container according to claim 1 wherein the insulation material is formed from stalks of a plant material.
 4. The container according to claim 1 wherein the insulation material is straw.
 5. The container according to claim 1 wherein the insulation material is formed from continuous strands arranged side by side.
 6. The container according to claim 1 wherein the insulation material forms a mat.
 7. The container according to claim 1 wherein the insulation material forms a mat of interconnected strands.
 8. The container according to claim 7 wherein the strands are parallel and side by side and connected together to form an integral mat structure.
 9. The container according to claim 8 wherein the mat is connected by stitching across the strands.
 10. The container according to claim 8 wherein the mat forms a cylinder wrapped within the space around the inner shell.
 11. The container according to claim 1 wherein the insulation material is plant material which is chopped so that it can be poured into the space.
 12. The container according to claim 1 wherein the space is generally cylindrical and is filled with cylindrical band of the insulation material.
 13. The container according to claim 1 wherein the outer shell includes a generally cylindrical peripheral wall which is substantially wholly transparent.
 14. The container according to claim 13 wherein there is provided a top piece at the top of the cylindrical peripheral wall where the inner and outer shells are connected to form the opening.
 15. The container according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a lid for closing the opening. 